Al-Fatiha Foundation, a US-based organization dedicated
to Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and
questioning (LGBTIQ) released the following statement today on the UN
resolution on human rights and sexual orientation:

Al-Fatiha Statement on UN Resolution

Al-Fatiha applauds the government of Brazil for
introducing a resolution on human rights and sexual orientation at the 59th
Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR). This
historic resolution expresses “deep concern at the occurrence of violations
of human rights all over the world against person on grounds of their sexual
orientation” and urges other relevant UN bodies to “give due attention”
to these abuses.

The resolution builds upon the work of dozens of
international, national and local non-government organizations who have worked
for a number of years to urge the United Nations and its relevant bodies to
adopt language that condemns human rights violations against sexual and gender
minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people. The fact that 20
countries co-sponsored this resolution, including the European Union, Canada,
New Zealand and South Africa, is a testament to the remarkable activism of
LGBT and allied people. It is also amazing to see the alliances that have been
built across many movements (including gender, sexual orientation and health)
that have made it possible to bring this resolution to the forefront.

Al-Fatiha joins international human rights organizations,
LGBT and allied NGOs, and other people of conscience in expressing its dismay
with the final outcome of this landmark resolution on human rights and sexual
orientation. Governments of the world lost the opportunity to finally confront
human rights abuses against sexual and gender minorities. And institutions
that use the name of religion including the Vatican and the Organization of
Islamic Conference (OIC) seized this opportunity to once again express their
homophobia and intolerance towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
people.

While the Organization of Islamic Conference and its
member states introduced many amendments to the resolution and joined the
Vatican in lobbying governments to oppose the resolution, our overall efforts
to hold nation’s accountable for their human rights violations at the
international level, was not defeated. Both the OIC and the Vatican worked
tireless behind the scenes, using political maneuvering, and political threats
that played into the current geo-political climate.

The OIC ultimately resorted to calling for a “no
vote” and added amendments to the resolution, which stalled the process and
the resolution was not voted upon. The good news for those working on this
resolution is that it was not defeated. lt will be on the agenda next year and
it will be debated and voted upon at the 60th Session of the UNCHR.

Al-Fatiha stands ready to partner with international
human rights organizations, LGBT organizations, allied NGO’s and other
groups to ensure the passage of this landmark resolution. Human rights abuses
against sexual and gender minorities can no longer go unquestioned or
unchecked. And institutions like the Organization of Islamic Conference and
the Vatican can no longer use the name of religion as an excuse to justify
their homophobia and intolerance towards LGBT people.

Al-Fatiha is a part of a global grassroots movement of
sexual and gender minorities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
intersex Muslims. This international movement currently has member
organizations in four countries (South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada and
the United States), comprising of more than 1,500 people.

As our movement grows we will be joined by people and
organizations in predominantly Muslim countries, where historic grassroots
organizing is being conducted every day by LGBT activists and allies. From
North Africa to the Middle East; from Indonesia and Malaysia to the shores of
South Asia and the coast of North America, Muslims who are sexual and gender
minorities are uniting and standing together under the umbrella of Islam. Our
faith teaches us peace, love and social justice. These three core beliefs will
ultimately guide our movement for equality and ultimately liberation for all
sexual and gender minorities.